Imagine traveling from Cape Town to Johannesburg in just 90 minutes, with the invention of Hyperloop this may become the reality for travellers minus the tedious effort of collecting luggage, arriving at an airport an hour early and even boarding.
Elon Musk, a South African born innovator first considered the possibility of a fifth mode of transportation in 2012 in addition to the current modes.
Hyperloop intends to minimise travel time downsizing from hours to a matter of minutes, allowing travellers to reach their destination in record time. The hyperloop is an elongated pressurised tube-like transportation mechanism, which uses electric propulsion and pod-like structures to transport passengers at high speeds.
Reaching up to speeds of 1 000 km per hour, the hyperloop also utilises electric magnetic levitation.
Virgin Hyperloop One, a developer of the hyperloop says that the transportation mechanism will have a minimal effect on the environment.
“Virgin Hyperloop One systems will be built on columns or tunneled below ground to avoid dangerous grade crossings and wildlife. It’s fully autonomous and enclosed, eliminating pilot error and weather hazards. It’s safe and clean, with no direct carbon emissions.”
Currently two companies, Virgin Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) are working on bringing this invention to life.
It may sound completely out of reach but technology is developing rapidly with both companies estimating the possible implementation of hyperloop in roughly three years.
“It’s faster, as in two to three times faster than the fastest high-speed rail.”
Traffic may become a thing of the past with the hyperloop, saving vital time. Virgin Hyerloop One has estimated for every one million passengers that travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg, an estimated 347 years of travel time would be saved.
Virgin Hyperloop One estimates that it will take 90 minutes to travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
Estimate your own hyper loop time travel here.
Here is a detailed explanation of Hyperloop travel and how it works:
Picture: Virgin Hyerloop One, render image